Rcal10
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Everything posted by Rcal10
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Oh, great. Like the positive thinking. I think they can do what I suggested and that wouldn’t be Jed with a miracle save. It could be an actual realistic plan.
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Oh, I know. I am basically agreeing with you. Not sure they add a second full time bat. But my question still stands, does adding Bellinger, either Belt or Polanco and then a decent pen arm(maybe a 7th inning guy-not sure there is still an 8th inning guy) improve the team from last year. Do they go into the season as favorites for the division? I think they do, but not by much. I think the team is better than last year and they won 83 games last year. And should have won more.
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I’m not convinced they will add 2 either. I am just suggesting if they did add a Bellinger type and then a second bat (Polanco or Belt) if that would be enough for the offense. I am also it convinced Polanco or Belt would be a second staring type bat. Maybe a guy who plays 100 -115 games is more what I see them as.
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Just used Neris. Could be any one arm. I do think they are better. Sure Bellinger might regress. But at 1st they have to be better. I think they spent a lot of time last year trying to figure out their best team. Morel came up 30 games in, took forever to release Hosmer, couldn’t figure out the closer, etc… This year would be quicker to get to their best. Plus they have guys a more ready in the minors who can help. And, they did win 83 games last year and probably should have won 86-87. So a little better with better luck and maybe better use of the pen does get them 90 wins.
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So would signing Bellinger and Neris and then adding either Belt or Polanco be a satisfactory off season? Does that at least put them as “arguably” the top team in the central? I hope so, because I don’t think we get more than that, if we even get that.
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If, by minor miracle, you mean have to make a pretty significant trade, I agree with you. There is not a clear path with free agency. Even Chapman still leaves them short.
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Belt would work. Another name would be Polanco. He works as well. Both he and Morel would be DH, utility sort of guys. But they MIGHT also get a 3rd baseman out of him. MIGHT!!! Trade Madrigal, Mastrobuoni or Wisdom and add whatever else is needed for him.
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No reward either. Neutral. But really we don’t know. All I am saying is he got about what the industry expected. In fact the expected contract for him was 2/$36M. I don’t view this one as a Boras win, is all I am saying.
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He does bring teams in. I will give you that. But this was almost exactly what was expected for Hoskins. The only difference was the team. I don’t think him waiting got him more money. For all we know the Cubs could have offered a similar deal in December. Maybe they pulled it when trading for Busch. I agree, Boras is the best. But to me this deal looks exactly like what I would have thought he was being offered the entire FA period. And if it isn’t, IMO, teams were being unreasonable in their offers. If the Cubs didn’t make this offer in December than they didn’t really want Hoskins.
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So he was a little more than thawv’s prediction of 2/$8M. At least it seems things are moving.
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I am leaning to this way of thinking. There is still time and still players available. I have to believe they will spend past the first LT line. I think they will add $50M to the current payroll. At least I hope so.
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They might. But if they do that is terrible mismanagement of funds for a large market team. If they are going to stay under this year they absolutely should have gone over last year at the deadline. Personally I think they will go over. But yiu could be right.
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Right. This might be the year Boras loses.
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I am the same way. I want more certainty in my life. I know people will say players don’t have to worry about anything because they are set for life. I get that. But some people have a personality that just makes them want to have a plan in place asap. I don’t think it matters if they are set for life or not. But apparently the guys still out there don’t think like we do. Because set for life or not, I would imagine they would like to know where they will be spending the next few/several years. And remember, many of these guys have families. They have wives who will want to know where they will be living and raising a family. I couldn’t do it. I would be have been signed by now. Also, one thing to consider on guys waiting is a team could make a move that would then take them out on a guy. Cubs may have done that to Hoskins by trading for Busch. What is Bellinger really wants to come here and Cubs have an offer in, but then Jed gets a deal too good to pass up on someone? Bregman, Bichette, Tucker, Guerrero, etc….. just examples. Bellinger loses the Cubs option and could end up taking less money because of a depressed market.
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I guess if the Cubs really like Woo it works. But then they are moving Busch back to 3rd. Not really a fan of France but he would be their first baseman. If I had to say yes or no to it, I would say no for the Cubs.
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I think it really depends on where it came from or where is spread to. From what I read, depending on where else it is he could have a 98% 10 year survival rate or a 34% survival rate for 5 years. And unless I missed it, no one has said where else he has cancer. I pray it is where survival is likely.
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I don’t see Madrigal bringing much back. Do they have a pen arm they might deal for him? Or even him and a minor league lower level prospect for a pen arm? They are not going to get one of those young starting pitchers.
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Ok, cool. We are good. Just, in the past you have referred to me as a prospect hugger. I thought you were suggesting that again. I am in full agreement with you. The Cubs should not waste this opportunity. They need to acquire talent via free agency or trade. And they need to act like a large market and at least not be afraid of the first LT layer.
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Why do you directing your question to me? And why does it appear you are suggesting I want the kids to play? I have been against the idea of not filling a spot because we have kids coming up every step of the way. Stratos seems to not want to block anyone or give out long term deals. And yet you come back to me. But since you asked me, NO I wouldn’t be happy or satisfied if they did nothing. If they miss out on all the other free agents they need to make aggressive trades using some minor league talent. Contrary to what you seem to suggest my position is, I view the minor league talent as assets to acquire major league talent. If they don’t get any one via free agency they need to deal some minor league talent and compete this year. The only time I have suggested a prospect fill a spot is when the discussion is filling a pen arm or the 26 guy in the team for a contract around a couple of million dollars. I don’t think you get anything for that. So in that case I would rather see a system guy. Instead of a pen arm for $2M, I will take my chances with Palancia, Little, etc. instead of Matt Carpenter for $2M I will take my chances with Mervis, Canario, Mastrobuoni or Wisdom.
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I understand. But what I am saying is IF they do sign Bellinger is it even worth chasing a dumpster dive FA pitcher and bat, if they don’t go over this year. Do you want another Hosmer at league minimum ? Or some clown reclamation project pitcher at $2M. Might as well keep what they have and hope a young guy gets the job done. I would guess the young guy has as good a chance as the cheap player.
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If you're suggesting they stay under the first LT line, they can’t even do what you just said. They have $38M to that line. They will hold back at least $5M for deadline deals. So that leaves $33M. How are they getting Bellinger ($25M) a pen arm and another usable bat for $33M? If the pen arm they sign is under $5M and the bat under $5M they might as well just stay with what they have. No one at that price moves the needle, IMO. I think (hope) the plan is to go over the first line but not the second. That gives them $20M more. Now a pen arm can be $7M $10M and a bat at $16-$20M. If they don’t go over the first line then what they did at the deadline last year was terrible FO work. They should have went over for another relief pitcher which would have likely helped them gain a playoff spot. Not going over now makes that decision even worse than it was at that time.
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Chapman just signed for $10.5M. I really am not sure the Cubs will spend that on a pen arm. I can see them spending another $50M. That would put them close to $250M. Over the first layer but $7M under the second LT layer. So if they signed Bellinger for $25M a year that leaves $25M - $26M for another bat and a pen arm. If the arm cost $10M that probably takes them out of any trade for Alonso or signing Hoskins. And definitely out of signing M. Chapman.
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I wouldn’t think they would have acquired Busch to then trade him for a guy with one year left in his contract. Maybe they trade Assad or Wesneski plus Mervis for him. But I doubt it is Busch
